Accident - G-CKYT

It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority introduces mitigations to reduce, as far as reasonably practicable, the risk of a catastrophic failure resulting from contact between the gimbal block and the roll stop bar on all gyroplanes fitted with the Rotorkopf III rotor head and those of similar design.

The CAA is planning to undertake a regulatory review and will carry this out as an additional activity to the BCAR Section T working group mentioned later in this update. In carrying out this review, we will liaise with SMEs both within the CAA and externally. We shall aim to conduct this review and draw any conclusions as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Open

May 2026

It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority reassess the requirements and acceptable means of compliance in BCAR Section T for issuing approvals to gyroplanes, in light of the failure mode identified from the dynamic loading of the gyroplane rotor head in flight, to ensure manufacturers demonstrate to an acceptable level, through appropriate test and/or analysis, mitigation of the risk of catastrophic structural failure from dynamic loads in flight.

The General Aviation Unit has been forming a BCAR Section T working group of subject matter experts including operators (including a test pilot), airworthiness experts, the British Rotorcraft Association and gyroplane manufacturers.

The working group will focus on matters related to the AAIB’s Safety

Recommendations (2024-018 and 2024-020), alignment with other requirement sets that exists all whilst factoring in new technology or performance standards. Once coordinated, the working group will meet every 2-3 months until such time as we reach a satisfactory outcome.

Open

May 2026

It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority publishes guidance on the subject of rotor load factor during flight manoeuvres for the theoretical training and testing of pilots undertaking the gyroplane PPL syllabus and the gyroplane instructor and examiner qualifications.

The CAA is in the process of reviewing Standards Document 44 (Gyroplane Pilot Licensing) with a view to further update the document to include guidance on the subject of rotor load factor during flight manoeuvres for the theoretical training and testing of pilots undertaking the gyroplane PPL syllabus and the gyroplane instructor and examiner qualifications. To produce this guidance, the CAA is looking to involve instructors and examiners from the gyroplane community and aims to publish such guidance by the end of 2026.

Open

May 2026

It is recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority reassess the certification and acceptable means of compliance requirements for issuing Certificates of Airworthiness to gyroplanes intended to be used for commercial operations, to ensure manufacturers demonstrate, through appropriate test and analysis, mitigation of the risk of catastrophic structural failure from dynamic loads to a level comparable with equivalent Certificate of Airworthiness aircraft certified to design regulations such as Certification Specifications 23 and 27.

The General Aviation Unit has been forming a BCAR Section T working group of subject matter experts including operators (including a test pilot), airworthiness experts, the British Rotorcraft Association and gyroplane manufacturers.

The first meeting is scheduled for November 2025 and will focus on matters related to the AAIB’s Safety Recommendations (2024-018 and 2024-020), alignment with other requirement sets including CRI E-01 (for certified Gyroplanes and commercial uses). This whilst factoring in new technology or performance standards also. The working group will meet every 2-3 months until such time as we reach a satisfactory outcome.

Open

May 2026